Hello my fellow band geeks and aspiring writers! I want to thank you again for all of the reviews and your support for this story. Gosh I can't believe that it's been 6 months since I've published this story. It's amazing how much this story has progressed. So again thank you for all of the support!

Also, I am planning to start redoing the first couple of chapters. Because I reread them a week ago and I was astonished at my writing six months ago so I already started on chapter 1 and will probably stop at chapter 4.

SailorMoonAddict: okay where do I start? I guess first of all I must thank for the critique on the band. Most of the decisions I made about what character gets what section was depended on their personalities but I also had to fit the story itself as well. So yes the guard is the outcast and I've met some guard that were like that several years back and grew into a prestigious and award winning ones. In fact, my school was like that too which is where I got the inspiration from. Also yeah thanks for reminding about the trumpets being cocky because it's true in some ways. Lastly, yes in this story guard and drummers can't date and in some band it's true because of all of the drama behind it, but for other sections it doesn't matter. And for marching band fanfics try the marching band archives if you haven't already. Try Hearts of Glass or Drum Major Status.

And a Happy New Year everybody!

Enjoy!

Annabeth's POV:

This whole week had been full of surprises, but not every surprise was a cherry on top.

My old marching band back in San Francisco never did backdrops so going into the project and hearing the suggestion during practice left me clueless in the beginning. But Thalia managed to explain everything to me pretty well, which I was grateful for because I didn't want to look stupid making them especially if my partner happened to be Seaweed Brain.

Besides that, I met Percy's mother for the first time. She was pleasantly nice unlike her offspring. When I introduced myself to her, her eyes widened in realization to who I was. I smiled and it got me thinking if Percy ever mentioned me to his mother before. Thinking about that made my insides flutter again. I have told myself countless of times not to get my hopes up for him, but clearly I'm not listening to myself.

My truce with the drum captain didn't have much effect on the band. I still received the same half-assed responses from them. I didn't care about their perception on me but I cared about my guard. Every day we went run though over run through and I could tell the guard is becoming worn-out and reluctant to anything and the more I push them it will eventually turn into a one member guard with twenty back up dancers. But with a little devising and planning with Mr. D and Thalia, I was able to convince them to have an early Super Saturday.

To fully understand the success in this plan is to understand a Super Saturday. It was a normal band camp practice but on a Saturday during the marching season, starting from eight in the morning to nine at night. Only this band would have a more than a twelve hour practice. I wasn't too thrilled hearing the time because my old band camp never ran that late but I guess this is how an award winning marching band works.

Thus, here I was standing outside of the band room, waiting for those doors to open to start practice.

Thinking about my old band has me wondering how they are doing and how my guard is or more accuretly how Calypso's guard is. I shuddered thinking what strange and unusual punishment she is making them do. I never really liked her and was always curious to why my instructor chose her to be my lieutenant.

Besides Calypso, my old guard was perfect. We were champions for god's sake. I miss every single one and thing about them. Sadly, receiving letters and emails from them only made it worse. Then I thought of innocent Juniper, and Zoe, and all of the other kids that I met in this guard. If it was three weeks ago and the band was still harassing me, I would've accepted coming back in a heartbeat, but now I'm not so sure.

The friends I met: Thalia, Nico, Grover, the guard, and even Percy. I know for sure my life wouldn't be the same without them.

This marching band, even with all of its flaws and drama, was still an award winning band. It is a relief and a fresh of breath being in a working environment where people actually know what they are doing.

Also, with the short amount of time I shared with this band, I still connected to them in some strange level and I care about them. This coming out of me three weeks ago would've felt like acid but now I know a part of it is true.

Now the only thing I have to endure is the constant gossip around school. And I must not forget the red-headed devil Rachel who has been on my case since the first day since and still is. There is something about her that I can't wrap my head around it. It displeases me that I don't know. It was something that Thalia told me on the first day after my encounter with her which I haven't had the time to ask, but Thalia was holding back information; that part I knew. Then there was the cocky quarterback, Luke, who was miserably failing to ask me out to dinner. I thought he had enough humiliation when Thalia told him out. I sighed, as long as I surpass those two and the rest of the student body, this year could finally be manageable.

I shivered from the wind and yawned. I only had on my sweatpants and jacket over my practice clothes and a duffel bag in my hand filled with today's events. Even under layers, I was still cold. It was seven in the morning at the start of autumn. Usually that news never seemed like a big deal back in California. But this was New York and I was already shivering in the end of September waiting for the rest of my band mates to show up.

So far it's seems like I was the only one here. My car was the only one parked in the vacant parking. Even with all of the things happening today, Thalia still doesn't show up in time. All of the section leaders were to report an hour early to go over the plans today and I happen to be only person here. My blood was rushing with rage. And I am sure that I will kill Thalia if this 13 hour Super Saturday wasn't worth it even though it was my idea to have one in the first place. I groaned and faced the doors to the band room. I stared onto it praying it will suddenly open to escape me from this weather. It didn't. I grunted and kicked the doors hard that I'm pretty sure my toes will be bruised later. Then I rattled the door handles trying to break them open.

Click

I froze, my breathes deepening as the door opened ajar and I prayed that I didn't break the door literally. I never meant it; it came out of frustration. Breaking into a building was bad enough, but breaking into my own band room filled with it's own security system was worse. Every band room, especially this band, are always on high alert with trespassing in fear of stolen instruments and equipment. My record was clean and I intended it to keep it that way even during the moments I was tempted to kill a certain drum captain. So I can't even imagine what would Mr. D would do when he finds anything missing or broken to his room. I thought and contemplated on a quick escape out of this when the door suddenly opened even more and I cautiously stepped back .

"Ahh!" a head popped out of the door who I noticed later was Thalia. She laughed manically at her prank but I wasn't in the mood for it. Here I was freezing my but anxiously waiting for her and the rest of the leaders to arrive for practice when out of nowhere I find out that she was already here cozy inside a closed up room. I definitely wasn't in the mood and it was obvious when I glared menacingly at her.

"Surprise?" Thalia squealed although I knew she was still holding in her laugh.

"What the hell was that for? I was waiting for you for the past ten minutes only to find out that you've been here all along!" I spitted the words out with acid.

"Okay sorry Annabeth. I couldn't resist." I rolled my eyes. "And relax we always scare the last person to arrive," she smirked.

"Everyone is already here?"

"Yup we've all been here for half an hour already." I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.

"How is that possible? Nobody's car is parked except for mine."

"That's because we always park in the parking lot to the field."

"Nobody told me that."

"We never say anything and expect the people to learn." Right. I forgot about that. "So come in we were talking about the plans today until we heard a loud thud to the door following some loud rattling and we all knew who that would be," she eyed me suspiciously but I just kept my hard stare at her.

She grabbed my bag and we headed inside. The leaders were sitting in a circle with Mr. D at the top. Mostly everybody looked like they just woke up and headed to school with their sweats and jackets. Some had dark circle under their eyes especially Nico, or maybe that's his natural look. Jackson too had dark circles and his usual messy hair was unrulier and messier.

I dropped my bag with the others but due to the instruments and backdrop materials, there wasn't a lot of space for them. I joined them sitting next to Thalia who sat across from Mr. D. To my right, was a leader I almost didn't recognized. Beside guard, trumpets, low brass, and unfortunately drumline, I don't know any other leaders of this band. It was a girl with black hair and, what seems to be from my periphery, blue eyes. She was tall and skinny, and not to mention gorgeous enough to make any girl envy and guy be swooned over. But she seemed timid as she watched the other leaders. Must be a woodwind section leader.

My eyes wondered around the circle staying a second or two longer on Jackson, but I looked away before any gut wrenching gymnastics can occur.

No distractions today. I promised myself that and I plan to keep it as long as I can despite the odds. It was about the guard and the band today and no one else.

Then how come Mr. D is wearing a guilty expression?

"Now that everyone is here, I would like to start off that it is too damn early for a Saturday." Everybody groaned in agreement. "But we are here either way. Now it is still early in the season to have a Super Saturday, but Miss. Chase thought it would be nice to have one early," Mr. D glared at me when he said that. I could tell most of the leaders were planning murder scenes for me.

"Today will not be a regular Super Saturday though. Take this day like the first day of band camp with all of the ice breakers and games. Although I didn't plan a lot of games during camp, I would like to go back to the tradition," Thalia informed, "It is still cold outside and the field is still wet to do any practice. So for the first three hours we will be finishing the backdrops and then head out to the field from eleven to nine." Everybody's eyes widened when they heard that. "We aren't marching the whole time and there's lunch and dinner too. Like I said we are going to have 'fun' while marching," she quickly said after seeing everybody's faces.

"One last thing, I will be having people coming in to help us so behave because this week has been going well so far despite what happened last week, so keep it up," Mr. D gave us one last word of advice and left to his office like usual.

There was still over half an hour left until the day starts and kids usually rush in the last fifteen minutes. Most of the leaders went their way while Thalia stayed looking at drill charts and music.

It seems like I was the only person wondering who the 'people' Mr. D was talking about. The only person I know that isn't coming in is Aphrodite because she is spending her day with her fiance. Once again, I'm alone.

I stood up to grab my bag and dropped it in from of the guard and flag lockers. I crossed the room to see Percy setting up his snare.

"Why are taking out your snare? You won't need it for three hours."

"It's called being prepared," he smirked. "And plus I miss my snare. I've been worrying about our solo too much," he said glumly.

"What do you mean too much? We've been practice the third song which has no solo this whole week and the only time we rehearse was the little half an hour before," I crossed my arms.

"Exactly, it is half an hour more than I want," he said carelessly. I scoffed and rolled my eyes because there was a sense of humor in his tone.

"Oh you so wish that we would spend more time together," I accused. Jackson looked up to me with dark eyes. They weren't the bright see greens that I was accustomed to. I was anticipating for a come back but I never got it. Instead he gave a deep sigh and walked away. But I wasn't done with him yet, I grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Look, whatever I said, I'm sorry. I would hate to hold a grudge against each other for the next 13 hours."

He sighed, "Sorry and you're right. It's just too early for me right now to think."

I smiled a little from that knowing that it isn't wholly my fault. "Good and I'll see you later with the back drops," I waved him goodbye, leaving him partly stunned.

It was fifteen till eight. The room was partly cleared of backdrop supplies because Thalia ordered the guys to take them outside for painting. The band was starting to pile in by groups and soon the room was crowded with a hundred and fifty band geeks mostly all refreshed because they were able to get an extra hour of sleep.

Thalia stood on top of the pedestal to call for attention. I'm sure I heard the room rumbled. Thalia informed the band the schedule for today. The band groaned from hearing the ten hour marching because she left out the fun part of the 'surprising activities' she expects to make us do.

No more than ten minutes, she broke us up to finish the art project. The band knocked me from side to side while trying to rush out the door. Unfortunately, I idiotically stayed on my spot to wait for Jackson to catch up. When we spotted each other, the Stolls popped up out of nowhere and grabbed both of his arms.

"Oh no you're not Perce. He is coming with us to fix the wheels, not paint any candles," they broke in and pulled Jackson away from me. He looked appalled as his tenor players grabbed him to the doors. I stood there laughing as he was being man handled to the front door. I left a few minutes later after calming myself from the butterflies.

Outside, every section was scattered on their own spots with their own paints and backdrop. It was only the drumline that was at every spot screwing in a base and wheels. I sighed and trudged to the guard who was painting the Phantom's Lair. It felt weird doing this without Percy. Throughout this week, Percy and I was able to finish the background of it now it was just the final touches. Of course, we would've finished it earlier but all Percy did was held the ruler and paint for me. It seemed like he was afraid of the paints.

"Ugh, why is painting so messy," a high pitched voice shrieked. We all look to see Drew flailing and hyperventilating with the speck of paint on her hair.

"It wouldn't be such a mess if you tied up your hair like I told you," I commanded. It was too early to handle her business. Drew glared at me and I returned it back daring her to make the next move. She didn't and tied her hair up like everybody else did and went on to painting.

The whole time, I had to make sure the guard wasn't fooling around.

"Annabeth come look at the candles over here," Zoe cried out. As a good captain I followed to where she was, although there was no reason to. She was a good performer and listened to every command. She is what every captain and instructor wished to have in a team, but sometimes she can get a little crazy. "I really think that giving the candles this look will give it a nice affect, don't you think?" I stared dumbfounded at her.

"I say go for it," I sighed. She rolled her eyes, the other girls were looking at her like she was crazy. Sadly Drew interjected.

"Annabeth, it is your solo and backdrop, don't you want it to look amazing? I know if it was my solo, I would make sure this would look even more amazing," Drew innocently faked. Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.

"I'm not saying that she has to have this backdrop look amazing for the solo Drew," Zoe corrected.

"I'm just saying you prude that why not have the best of both? You get a brilliant backdrop and a good looking partner too."

I absolutely have no clue where I was in this argument anymore.

"Only you would think that," Zoe rolled her eyes.

"Think what? That I am astonishingly good looking?" We all looked up to see my partner himself clad with a power drill and a box of nails along with Jimmy and Noah, two sophomores, carrying wheels and a long piece of board. Jackson had his smirk again.

"Oh why yes," Drew cooed and latched onto his arm. Jackson's eyes widened and laughed nervously as he tried to shake her off. Zoe scoffed while I flinched and rolled my eyes. However seeing Percy nervous as he was was hilarious to witness.

"Yeah, anyway we were just passing along. Although I do think your backdrop needs a reassurance on its stability first," He grinned.

"Wow big words from a seaweed brain."

"That's a good looking seaweed brain to you." But before anything Travis fell onto his arm even worse than Drew.

"Yeah that's great our captain is educating himself. But I think this backdrop is steady enough so lets go to the one that isn't," he interrupted for the second time today and from the look on Percy's face he didn't look too happy, but Travis gave a sweet smile and lead them to the next station.

Throughout the three hours, the guard bugged me with questions about the little moment I had with Percy. I honestly thought it was nothing (much) but they begged to differ and began to plan our wedding. Thankfully Thalia called us in to go to the field. Not all of the backdrops were finished but they were to a point where we can use them for practice.

Standing out on the open field was needless to say, freezing. Although the sun was peaking its rays through the clouds, the wind didn't help much. That worried me with the guard's performance.

Everybody was set for the first song. I was trying to focus on the solo but the constant bickering between Drew and Zoe didn't help at all.

"You guys better be quiet or give me five laps around the field carrying your flags, got it?" They grimaced back but not before giving me an eye roll.

Thalia started the show, but with the newest addition of the backdrops, she had to halt us to give further instructions.

Now it was Jackson and I standing in the middle of the field preparing to do the solo when Thalia cut us off.

"So..." he trailed. I repelled my hand from his, even though in the back of my head said to not to. Thalia was standing in front of the band instructing them of the backdrop leaving the guard and drumline in the front. "We should practice," he gave a small smile.

"Weren't you the one saying that you spend too much time with me and not enough with drumline?"

A hint a pink crept onto to his face. "Well yes, but consider it an apology for leaving you twice." Everybody's eyes were on us now.

Ultimately I sighed, "If I had the choice, I would've dumped you into the pit of hell, but I don't have that so sure," I gave in. Percy smiled and unmounted his snare.

We went through every part and I shivered at every touch up until the lift. Even after successful tries of it, I was still hesitant in case he ever drops me again.

"Don't you trust me Annabeth?" Percy whispered into my ear from behind. His arms were already on my waist. I contemplated on a rational excuse but nothing came up. From the side, the guard cheered to continue. I gave a slow nod for my section.

Steadily, he lifted me up, like the times before and I followed as practice. He held me tightly above him and turned. This lift was supposed to be romantic but I doubt we were far from that.

"Whoa Percy Jackson?" A voice called out. I flinched hoping it wasn't the last time.

"What?" Percy asked, losing focus by the second. I held my breath waiting for the impact to happen. It never did and I found myself in the arms of Percy once again. He was trying his best not to laugh and put me on the ground. Claps erupted from the front of the field.

This time, it wasn't a group full of cheerleaders with their red headed witch, although I had my claws out ready to attack. It was a group of random people I never met before walking towards us. The band heard the commotion and walked towards us with a surprising reaction. Most of the cheered and rushed to their side. Mr. D appeared out of nowhere and introduced them.

"For those new people who don't know these people, they are the alumni from years past and some of the techs who are here to help us."

One of them was a tall and built guy with calloused hands went over to Jackson and I. "That was a mean trick you just did, Perce," he said with a rough and deep voice.

"Err, thanks Beckendorf." They shook and hugged.

"And who is your partner?"

"This is Annabeth, the new guard captain, and this is Beckendorf, a former tuba player who graduated two years ago," Percy introduce me. All of the alumni's eyes widened.

"So you're the new trouble that is shaking up the band," a tall guy with sandy hair said from the crowd of girls hanging onto him. He had this cool persona with his white t-shirt and blue jeans. He was built but not compared to Beckendorf. But there was something about him that reminded me of a cocky football player I knew.

"Yes I am, and you are?"

"Clearly interested," he joked but I stood there not amused unlike his fan group. "Ahem, I'm Apollo the former trumpet leader."

"Yes, yes introductions, now get going," Mr. D shooed us.

Now with this new audience, I have more weight on my shoulder because this isn't just any audience but former graduates who may or may not know about the guard.

Thalia continued us from the beginning all the way to where we left in the third song. The guard did every trick, toss, and dance move that I taught them and I survived the solo.

A moment of silence until cheers and laughter were heard from the stadium. They walked down while we walked up to the front side line.

"Wow that was something, congratulations you guys and Thalia for a good show so far," Beckendorf said.

"And the solo was a nice touch," Apollo added and the alumni's nodded in agreement. Just good and nice? We didn't practiced three hours a day to receive a good and a nice.

The band thought what they said thoroughly as we broke off for lunch. Mr. D was nice enough to have a BBQ for us with burgers and pizza. Although I don't know if the food would be trustworthy enough coming from Mr. D.

"Hey guard captain." I looked up to see Beckendorf with a plate of two slices of pizza and three burgers.

"Um hi."

"I see that you've taken the position really well. But don't sweat on what we said. We alumni's are always hard." I nodded. "Anyways, catch you later." He went off to follow the woodwind leader from this morning, who I happened to learn was the flute section leader.

I grabbed the nearest person to me for information. Unfortunately, it was Percy who was walking past by me to get burgers.

"Whoa Annabeth, want me already?" he smirked.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself and make me slap you. Now tell me who is that?" I pointed to the girl who was greeting Beckendorf.

"That is Silena Beauregard, senior and flute section leader. She is also quite a looker isn't she?" I smacked him on the arm that I grabbed.

"Jerk and thanks." Percy just shrugged. I walked away but he had other plans as he followed me too.

"What's the rush?"

"I'm tired and hungry," I said bluntly.

"And?" I smacked him again. "Okay sorry I'll stop I just want to talk to you."

"Why?" I said in a reflex as I watched the drumline carefully watching their captain. Percy looked over his shoulders to where I was looking.

"It is definitely not about them and I just want to talk. All of the techs and alumni's being here is making everything too busy."

I sighed not because of what Percy said but it was that Apollo was coming straight towards us.

"Annabeth is it?" I nodded. "Good, now you did a good job with the guard so I've heard and your papers is outstanding too." Apollo gave a cocky smile. "Of course as having some background and experience in guard, I know what looks good and doesn't."

I flinched my head up from hearing that. Was he serious? It's hard to imagine a cocky and self-centered person like him to be in tights and tossing a flag. He must be joking, but Percy clearly knew what he meant.

"Apollo don't go there," he growled looking menacingly at Apollo. I looked cautiously at the two.

Apollo raised his hands in reassurance, "Calm Perce. All I am saying is since my sister was the last guard captain at this school before it plummeted, I have some experience in it".

I stared appalled and dumbfounded at him. A former guard captain. I have never thought of that situation before because it never occurred to me that there was a guard three years ago before I came since it was so bad.

"Well whoever your sister is, I have respect for her to take up the responsibility of the guard and I do not doubt her skills as performer. I'm sure she was great," I said with as much diplomacy as I was able to.

"Yeah it's my sister, the perfectionist, and don't worry I'm on your side, just be careful when she does come because it will be her first visit in four years." I stood up hearing that. Apollo chuckled, "You have talent kid but if only your were a couple of years older. Hmm, anyway take care and take care of her Perce," he patted Percy's back and walked away.

I looked strangely back at Percy with a raised eyebrow.

"That guys just gets in my nerves," he sighed and calmly uncurled his fist. I said nothing, still calculating what just happened. "Don't be scared," he chuckled. T

"You should go back before your section think up of more murder plans for me." He looked back at the drumline and sighed.

"I guess you're right. Bye." He left leaving me tired and hungry and alone.

Lunch ended the second the sun was bursting from the clouds. Thalia surprised the band of games and ice breakers. The ice breakers felt never ending, but I was able to learn a lot of new things. The guard opened up to me more which I appreciated. And Selina, the flute section leaders, turned out to be very nice with a not so small crush on Beckendorf.

After the ice breakers, we broke off into a series of games because of so many people. The first game as Red Rover, which I found myself to be in the arms of Percy again, was hilarious to experience. It was the alumni's and underclassmen versus the upperclassmen. Then the whole band went in together for Brave Heart lasting us for two hours.

Now as the sun was setting, Thalia gave us a two hour break to roam around and eat dinner. This was one of the hardest things for me was during break. The guard had their own separate groups of friends and it will feel weird to have their captain barging in. Thalia, Grover, and Nico went to hang out with their section and alumni's. So I was stuck, something I hate being in.

Heading to the band room, I saw the sunset only wishing I could get a higher view of it. And that's when it clicked. I ran to the side only to see the ladder already lowered.

Percy was sitting at the same spot I saw him what seems like forever ago. I sat down next to him watching the sunset. Neither of us said a word until it finally set under the tall buildings.

"Did you have a fun Super Saturday?"

"Yeah even though technically it wasn't an official one."

He chuckled, "I guess you're right. That just means that they are pushing harder on us later." Suddenly he stood up. "The two hours is over." I stood up understandably although disappointed that the time flew by so fast.

We ran to the field finding the band huddled up in blankets and jackets as the wind flew by coolly. I bundled into my jacket even further. We sat down with the band as somebody brought out a guitar and bongos. It was really cheesy seeing this and the only thing that could make is perfect and warm was a bonfire in the middle. If only we weren't on school campus.

Wow, that was long! And I took the whole weekend writing this when I should be doing homework. Luckily I managed to finish both in time.

Does your band have super saturdays too or is it something something different? Also is there anything that you guys would like to see happen in this marching season regarding marching band and or competition? Please tell me for it would help the plot even though I already have the plot it'll help in case I forget anything major.

Also sorry for an spelling or grammatical errors.

Please tell me if you guys hate it or love it or any constructive criticism. I will try to update as soon as possible. And good skills with concert season everybody!

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Can I get at least 5 reviews before my next update?